Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

430 SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET.
of its simpler symbols and substituted, strained, unnatural
and common place interpretations in their
place.
The figure is a five-armed cross, enclosed by a circle,
that by a triangle, that by a pentagon, that by a ~heptagon,
and that by a nonagon. On the lines of the nonagon,
are the camps of those from the 19th to the 30th
degrees inclusive. On the triangle, those of the 31st
and 32nd degrees. It is evident that the distribution of
these degrees is now nearly arbitrary. While eighteen
degrees occupy the nonagon, being double the number
of its sides, twelve occupy the pentagon and two the
triangle. It is true that Knights of Malta are added
to make three bodies for the triangle, but this is evidently
a mere make-shift, for they are not Masons,
and to introduce them destroys the whole idea at once.
The seventeen sides of these three figures in no way
suit the present number of the degrees. Then again,
there are no camps at all on the heptagon, and so It becomes
a perfectly useless part of the figure. The discrepancies
in the rituals, as to the distribution of the
first eighteen degrees, show that the arrangement. is
arbitrary, and there is n6 attempt made to connect the
letters of the camp,~ or of the standards, in any way,
with the degrees to which they are assigned. They
would seem to have been taken at random, like the
names of the Commanding officers, which offer the
most singular and incongruous mixture.
As if further to increase the difficulty, the rituals differ
as to the standards to which the respective letters
Y. -.E. .N. -.G. ~.IJ.~.are to be assigned. These devices
of these standards are not apparently connected with
the degrees in either arrangement, nor is any attempt
made to explain their meaning, or show from whence
part of them came. Then we are told of three birds,
INITIATION. 431
one in each corner of the triangle; L. Raven, a Dove”’
arid a Phenix.”’ No one vouchsafes to tell us where
they came from; or the palm-trees on each side of the
ark; or the meaning of the inflamed or winged heart;
or of the five armed cross in the circle. And if any attempt
to explain these things has been madc, it is painful
to a man of intellect to read the miserable and trivial
stuff to which sensible men are expected respectfully
to listen. The reason for selecting georiietrical figures
is obvious. The circle is unity, and it with others
represent the five sacred Masonic numbers, 1, 3, 5, 7,
and 9.
We have deeply studied these emblems, reflected upon
them, and made many researches in the hope of
fathoming their meaning. What we have discovered
we propose to communicate to you. It is our own discovery.
We have not received it by tradition. Besides
the cause already mentioned, there is we believe, another
that has lead to the intentional denatu-realizahon
of this symbol, and that has probably destroyed
the possibility of ever receiving the whole meaning.
Whether the partial explanation we shall give you is
Note 5S4.—’~Thls bird was the diluvian messenger of peace. Slid
hovered over the retreating waters like a ceiestiai harbinger of safety.
Thus a innette floating on the surface of the ocean, attended by a dove
with an olive branch in Its mouth, and encIrcled by a rainbow. form
a atrlking and expressive symbol which needs no expianation If Freemasonry
has allowed this bird to occupy a high altuatlun amnugat Its
hallowed symbois. the reasons for such an appropriation are fuily cam
petent to justify tbe proceeding The dove was an agent at the
creation, at the deluge, and at tbe baptism of Christ —Maccia Racyolopiodia
and Dictionary of rre.maaonx’y, Artici. Dove.
Note 555.—’~Phosnix. The oid mythologicai iegend of the i’hoeuix is
a famlilar one The bird was described as of the size of an eagle, with a
head finely created. a body covered with beautiful plumage, and eyes
sparkilng ilke stars. She was said to lire six hundred years in the
wliderness. when she bout for herself a funeral pIle of aromatle woods,
which she ignited wIth the fanning of her wings, and emerged from the
flames wIth a new life. Hence the phmnlx has been adopted universally
as a symbol of Immortality. higgins (Anacaiypaie, it. 44i,) says that
the phmnix is the symbol of an ever-revolving solar circle of sIx hundred
and eight years, and refers to the Phenician word phen, whIch
signIfies a cyele. Aumont. the first Grand Master of the Templars after
the martyrdom of tie Molny. and called lbs ~Restorer of the Order.’
took. It is said, for his seal, a Phienlx broodIng on the flames. wiih the
motto. ‘Ardet ot vlvat~—She burns that she may itve.”—Maok.ys Zany.
da,aeiia of Freemasonry, Article Phoenli.